[Surgical costs in an otorhinolaryngology department].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the costs of the surgical procedures most frequently performed in an Otorhinolaryngology Department.


METHODS
A descriptive economic analysis of the 5 most frequent surgical procedures performed during 2006, based on the following variables: human resources, non-structural equipment, medication, diagnostic tests and hospitalization during pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases.


RESULTS
Of the 1108 procedures, the most common was tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy with 25.45 % (282), followed by thyroidectomy/hemithyroidectomy with 8.39 % (93), septoplasty with 8.3 % (92), endoscopic CO2 laser with 8.21 % (91) and tympanoplasty with 7.85 % (87). The total cost for each surgical procedure was 301.02 euro, 1422.09 euro, 315.57 euro, 1245.29 euro, and 1454.04 euro, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of costs shows a direct relationship between the complexity of the procedure and its cost, in terms of human resources, equipment and hospitalization. The use of ambulatory surgery units positively influenced by reducing costs.
González Poggioli
Nicolás
N
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, España. nicolas.glez@canalejo.org
Herranz González-Botas
Jesús
J
Castro Ramallo
Alfonso
A
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000191:economics*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D013030:Spain